BA in Philosophy in Baltimore United States | University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Philosophy is often defined as the examination of truth, virtue, and aesthetics, but a more practical approach might outline its core disciplines. Metaphysics explores existence and humanity's place within it. Does a divine being exist? Are consciousness and ideas fundamental, or are we simply physical beings with neural activity? If every event has a cause, does human free will exist? How do we define personal identity? These represent typical metaphysical inquiries. Epistemology investigates knowledge: its scope and acquisition. Can genuine knowledge be attained? Does reality match our perceptions? Do other conscious beings exist with experiences similar to ours? How can limited observations justify universal scientific principles? Ethics examines morality, conceptions of the good life, and our obligations to ourselves and others. Why follow ethical standards when they conflict with personal gain? What compels legal obedience? Are moral principles absolute or socially constructed? Logic analyzes arguments, deductions, and rational thought. What constitutes valid proof? What makes an argument sound? How do we define reason? Additional branches include aesthetics, philosophy of science, linguistic philosophy, philosophy of consciousness, and religious philosophy. Our program provides instruction across all these fields. Historical philosophy courses examine how seminal thinkers addressed these questions, featuring works by Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes, Hume, Leibniz, Kant, Locke, Mill, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Sartre, and other influential philosophers.